A French firm, SEMMARIS-Rungis International Market, is set to support the establishment of an international wholesale agribusiness market in Oyo State.
The Director-General of the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency (OYSADA) and Executive Adviser on Agribusiness to Governor ‘Seyi Makinde, Dr. Debo Akande, announced this on Wednesday during a courtesy visit to the governor in Ibadan by a delegation from the firm, including Timothée Witkowski, Head of International Projects, and Steve Allen, Consultant-Market Specialist.
According to Dr. Akande, the investors plan to complement the Makinde administration’s efforts in the agribusiness sector by establishing a major market for agribusiness and farmers. Prior to their visit to the governor, the investors toured the state to assess infrastructure built over the past five years, including the Fasola Agribusiness Industrial Hub and major markets.
“This initiative is to complement the extensive work the governor has done in agribusiness,” Dr. Akande stated. “They visited various facilities, including the Iseyin-Moniya road, Fasola Agribusiness Industrial Hub, Bodija Market, and Akinyele Market, to understand what is currently on ground and how they can contribute further.”
He emphasized that the envisioned market will mirror the Rungis Market in France, the largest wholesale market globally. “In France, their global market operates efficiently with products being distributed by trailers to diverse locations by early morning. We aim to establish a similar centralized system for the wholesale agricultural market in Oyo State to support the growth of agribusiness and agriculture.”
Dr. Akande highlighted the benefits of the wholesale market, noting that it would streamline the process for large companies to purchase agricultural products in bulk, thus providing farmers with a centralized location to sell their goods at fair prices.
In addition to infrastructure, Governor Makinde has enhanced security with the Oyo State Security Network Agency, codenamed Amotekun, and has been increasing resources dedicated to security.
Timothée Witkowski, Head of International Projects at SEMMARIS-Rungis, commended Oyo State’s potential and strategic location, which makes it ideal for developing wholesale infrastructure for food supply in Nigeria. He noted, “Oyo State, with its central location and the efforts of Governor Makinde, is a key strategic place for developing a strategic agriculture hub and wholesale market. This aligns with our ongoing projects under the French Development Agency Funding Project.”
Witkowski added that their market model, which supports a vast array of products and provides significant economic benefits, is expected to foster food security, safety, and urban planning improvements in Oyo State.
The proposed wholesale market will provide a centralized location for farmers to sell their products, making it easier for large companies to purchase agricultural products in bulk. This will streamline the supply chain and improve access to markets for farmers, ensuring they receive fair prices for their goods. The project is also expected to create jobs and stimulate economic growth in Oyo State.
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